It was pure coincidence but it certainly raised a few eyebrows among the assembled media.

As the NBA All-Stars from the East and West gathered on a makeshift dais to sit on director's chairs before practice on Saturday, Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul and forward Blake Griffin were seated next to Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett.

Normally this wouldn't be a big deal, but over the past two weeks there have been multiple reports that the Clippers are actively pursuing Garnett.

Paul and Griffin were no strangers to the rumors as they sat down next to Garnett.

"I think people are just talking," Paul said. "At the end of the day, who wouldn't want to have Kevin Garnett on their team? I talk about that guy all day, every day, his intensity to the game and how he plays the game. He's a special player. That's a guy right there that I looked up to for a long time. Me and Chauncey (Billups) are really close and he and Chauncey are really close and everything I know about him is that he's a very loyal guy."

Garnett's loyalty to Boston, among other factors, is a big reason why a deal is unlikely. Garnett would have to waive his no-trade clause on any potential deal and Garnett said Saturday that he would not drop that clause for any trade.

"If it's up to me, I will live and die green," Garnett said.

Griffin said Garnett was one of the players he looked up to and patterned his game after growing up and welcomed the opportunity to play with him at some point if a trade happened.